Question 1

What is trauma?

Accepted Answer

Trauma isn’t only about big or dramatic events, it’s about the impact something has on us.

It can happen when an experience, even a small one, leaves us feeling unsafe, unseen, or powerless, and our mind and body don’t get the chance to fully recover.

Over time, those moments can quietly shape how we see ourselves and the world, perhaps leaving us more guarded, self-critical, or always on alert. Sometimes that impact shows up as anxiety, numbness, people-pleasing, or overthinking, even when life seems fine on the outside.

Question 2

What is trauma-informed counselling?

Accepted Answer

Trauma-informed counselling recognises the widespread impact of trauma and integrates this understanding into every part of the therapeutic process. It prioritises safety, trust, collaboration, and empowerment. The focus isn’t on retelling trauma, but on supporting you as you begin to notice how past experiences might still shape your emotions, relationships, or sense of self. We’ll move at your pace, working together in a way that feels respectful and grounding.

Question 3

How do I know counselling is right for me?

Accepted Answer

If you feel stuck in patterns that no longer serve you, counselling can help. Some signs that you might benefit from therapy include:
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Finding yourself in the same difficult relationship dynamics over and over
Struggling with self-worth, trust, or emotional connection
Feeling anxious, disconnected, or emotionally numb
Relying on coping strategies like avoidance, people-pleasing, or shutting down
 
You don’t need to have all the answers before starting counselling, that’s what we figure out together.

Question 4

What happens during counselling sessions?

Accepted Answer

Counselling with me is a collaborative process, meaning we explore what feels important to you at your own pace. Sessions often involve:
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Understanding how past experiences have shaped your patterns and responses
Identifying survival strategies that once protected you but may now be holding you back
Learning ways to regulate emotions, feel safer in your body, and build healthier relationships
 
My goal is for you to feel heard, understood, and supported, not judged or pressured.

Question 5

How much does counselling cost?

Accepted Answer

£65 per 50-minute session (daytime)Slight reductions are available on block bookings.

Question 6

Do you offer counselling packages?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I offer pre-booked session packages for those who want to commit to regular sessions:
6 sessions for £370 (save £20)
10 sessions for £600 (save £50)

Question 7

What if I can't afford counselling?

Accepted Answer

Counselling is an investment in your emotional well-being and personal growth. It’s a step toward creating a more balanced and fulfilling life, with lasting benefits that extend beyond the sessions themselves.  It is your self-care time.
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I offer a limited number of concession spaces for those experiencing financial hardship. These are available in off-peak times between 10am and 12pm and 2pm to 3pm.

If cost is a concern, we can explore NHS or charity-funded therapy options. Please feel free to reach out, and we can discuss what works best for you.

Question 8

What is your availability and locations?

Accepted Answer

I offer both in-person sessions in Southsea, Portsmouth and online therapy at the following times:Tuesdays: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM (In-person & online)Thursdays: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PMFridays: 10:00 PM – 2:00 PM (In-person & online)If you need a time outside of my listed availability, feel free to reach out, and I’ll do my best to accommodate where possible.I offer occasional evening appointments on a 1st come 1st serve basis, operated on a waiting list.

Question 9

Is counselling confidential?

Accepted Answer

Yes, everything we talk about in counselling is confidential. The only exceptions are situations where there’s a legal obligation to share information, such as risk of serious harm. If this ever came up, I’d discuss it with you first wherever possible.

Question 10

Can counselling help with self-sabotage, addiction, or unhealthy relationship patterns?

Accepted Answer

Yes – these challenges often have deeper emotional roots, shaped by past experiences and relational patterns, even if they don’t seem directly linked. Counselling can support you to:

Recognise patterns that may be keeping you stuck
Understand how these behaviours developed and what purpose they once served
Explore new ways to feel emotionally safe, regulate your responses, and build healthier relationships

Question 11

What therapeutic approaches do you use in counselling?

Accepted Answer

I integrate several trauma-informed approaches to support your healing journey. These practices are designed to foster emotional safety, self-awareness, and nervous system regulation as we explore your experiences at your own pace.

Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT): Rooted in attachment science, EFIT helps you explore and shift emotional patterns shaped by past experiences or relationships. It supports you in building a more secure, compassionate relationship with yourself.

Polyvagal-Informed Practices: Drawing on Polyvagal Theory, we explore how your nervous system responds to stress and past experiences. You'll learn to notice your body’s signals and use grounding tools to regulate emotions and create an internal sense of safety.

Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique / EFT): This gentle approach combines light tapping on acupressure points with mindful focus on emotions. It can help ease emotional overwhelm, promote clarity, and support resilience.

Question 12

How long is a counselling session?

Accepted Answer

Sessions are 50 minutes, giving us time to explore things at a pace that feels safe and manageable. If you ever feel like you need more time, we can discuss longer sessions.

Question 13

Why do you suggest an initial 6 sessions?

Accepted Answer

This is usually longer-term work. Because of that, I often suggest people think in terms of an initial six sessions, not because the work is short-term, but because it gives enough time to build safety and see whether this way of working feels right for you.

You’re not locked into anything, and we can always talk about ending sooner if you need to. I just want you to have a clear sense of what the work involves from the start.

Question 14

Can you help with healing from sexual trauma or abuse?

Accepted Answer

Yes – I work with individuals who have experienced sexual abuse or harmful sexual experiences, offering a compassionate, trauma-informed space where you can feel safe, supported, and in control of your own process.

You’ll always decide if and when you want to explore this. There’s no pressure to talk about anything before you feel ready. Where helpful, I may draw on approaches such as Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), polyvagal-informed practices, or Tapping (EFT) – but only if they feel appropriate and aligned with your needs. We work gently and at your pace to support emotional resilience, build internal safety and trust, and help you reconnect with your sense of self.

Question 15

What happens if I need to cancel or miss an appointment?

Accepted Answer

Cancellations require a minimum of 48 hours' notice. Missed or non-attended sessions with less than 48 hours' notice will be charged in full. If I am unable to attend a session, I will let you know as soon as possible and will do my best to make alternative arrangements.

Question 16

Can counselling help me if I had a 'normal' childhood but still feel stuck or anxious?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many people I work with didn’t recognise their experiences as traumatic until later in life. Even if things looked 'normal' from the outside, subtle forms of emotional neglect, people pleasing, or feeling unseen can leave lasting patterns. If you're finding it hard to understand your reactions or relationships, counselling can help make sense of those feelings and support meaningful change.

Question 17

What if I find it hard to talk about my past?

Accepted Answer

That’s completely okay. You don’t need to come to counselling knowing how to talk about everything. We’ll go at your pace. You’re in control of what you share, and I’ll support you in building safety and trust within yourself before we explore any deeper experiences. This work is about creating a space that feels safe, not overwhelming.

Question 18

Do you work with people who feel ‘too much’ or ‘not enough’?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and that feeling is more common than you think, especially for those with a history of trauma, emotional neglect, or toxic relationships. These feelings often come from old survival strategies that helped you cope but are now holding you back. Counselling can help you understand where they come from, process the pain behind them, and reconnect with a more grounded, compassionate sense of self.

Question 19

Can I come to counselling even if I’m functioning ‘fine’ on the outside?

Accepted Answer

Many people I work with seem like they’re coping and can have successful careers, relationships, appear to be coping well in day-to-day life, but underneath, they feel anxious, disconnected, or exhausted from keeping it all together. Counselling can help you explore the emotional cost of survival mode and start living in a more authentic, connected way.

Question 20

Are you a registered counsellor?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), which means I adhere to their professional standards and ethical framework. You can view my BACP profile on their website by searching 'Laura Uezzell'.

Question 21

What is EFIT?

Accepted Answer

EFIT stands for Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy. It’s an evidence-based approach that helps you understand the emotions and patterns that shape how you connect with yourself and others.

Grounded in attachment theory, EFIT explores how your early experiences of safety, love, or disconnection may influence how you relate today. It helps you make sense of your emotional responses and develop new ways of feeling secure, calm, and connected.

Rather than analysing or fixing, EFIT focuses on creating understanding and emotional safety so you can move from survival patterns toward genuine self-trust and connection.

Question 22

What is attachment?

Accepted Answer

Attachment is how we learn to feel safe, loved, and connected with others.
 Our early relationships shape how we relate as adults, how we trust, communicate, and respond to closeness or conflict. Understanding these patterns can help you build healthier, more secure connections in the present.

Question 23

Will you give me tools, strategies, or techniques?

Accepted Answer

My work is not focused on teaching techniques or giving step-by-step strategies to manage feelings or situations.

Instead, we take time to understand what’s driving your difficulties underneath, including emotional patterns, attachment experiences, and survival responses that have often developed over many years.

As this understanding deepens, many clients find they naturally relate to themselves and others differently, without having to rely on tools that can feel effortful or short-lived.

If helpful, we may explore gentle grounding or regulation practices to support safety and stability, but these are used in service of the deeper work rather than as a replacement for it.

Question 24

What if I feel nervous or anxious about starting counselling?

Accepted Answer

That’s completely normal. Most people feel nervous before their first session, especially if you’re not used to opening up, or you’ve been holding things together for a long time.

You don’t need to know what to say, and you don’t have to share anything you’re not ready to. We’ll go at your pace, and I’ll guide things gently.

If all you can manage to say is “I feel nervous,” that’s a really good place to start.

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FAQs for Individuals